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Paul James | Running Back

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CBS Sports' Dane Brugler believes Rutgers redshirt senior RB Paul James "has a NFL future, but first he needs to show scouts that he can stay relatively healthy."

"Although he's not overly shifty with only average long-speed, he hits the hole with conviction and vision to find the cutback lane, finishing each run with his physical build and run demeanor. James has a NFL future, but first he needs to show scouts that he can stay relatively healthy for a full season," Brugler wrote. The Rutgers prospect only played in four games in 2014, recording 363 yards on 63 carries (5.8 per rush) before tearing his ACL and ending his season. Brugler adds that, when healthy, James "has a Ryan Mathews-like run style, squaring his body, lowering his pads and staying balanced through contact." James has rushed for 1,266 yards and 14 touchdowns on 224 carries. Jul 20 - 3:27 PM

Rutgers HC Kyle Flood said redshirt senior Paul James will be the school's top RB when practice begins if he is healthy.

In James' absence last year, four running backs earned starts and each returns for the 2015 season. James has rushed for 1,266 yards and 14 touchdowns on 224 carries. He only played in four games last season before a torn ACL ended his season. Jun 12 - 9:50 AM

Rutgers redshirt junior RB Paul James will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL against Navy over the weekend.

James, who came into the matchup No. 5 on the Big Ten’s rushing list, ends his 2014 campaign with 63 carries for 363 yards and five touchdowns. Before the helmet of a Navy defender struck James' knee and ended his season, the star running back had carried seven times for 96 yards and a touchdown. This is a devastating blow for both the school and player; Rutgers' loses its premier playmaker, while James' NFL dreams are now delayed for at least a year. James reminds CBS Sports' Dane Brugler of "a not-as-cut version of Chargers back Ryan Mathews." James led Rutgers with 881 yards a year ago, missing four games with a broken fibula. Mon, Sep 22, 2014 02:05:00 AM

Rutgers redshirt junior RB Paul James exited Saturday's game against Navy in the second frame with an apparent knee injury.

James took a helmet to his right knee on a 13-yard run. As the replay booth tried to decide if he'd fumbled or not on the play -- he had not -- trainers worked on James' right leg. They assisted James off the field and James was ultimately outfitted with crutches. James had 96 yards on seven carries before he came out. The running back missed four games last year with a broken fibula. Sat, Sep 20, 2014 07:05:00 PM

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Rutgers HC Kyle Flood said redshirt senior Paul James will be the school's top RB when practice begins if he is healthy.

In James' absence last year, four running backs earned starts and each returns for the 2015 season. James has rushed for 1,266 yards and 14 touchdowns on 224 carries. He only played in four games last season before a torn ACL ended his season.

Rutgers redshirt junior RB Paul James will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL against Navy over the weekend.

James, who came into the matchup No. 5 on the Big Ten’s rushing list, ends his 2014 campaign with 63 carries for 363 yards and five touchdowns. Before the helmet of a Navy defender struck James' knee and ended his season, the star running back had carried seven times for 96 yards and a touchdown. This is a devastating blow for both the school and player; Rutgers' loses its premier playmaker, while James' NFL dreams are now delayed for at least a year. James reminds CBS Sports' Dane Brugler of "a not-as-cut version of Chargers back Ryan Mathews." James led Rutgers with 881 yards a year ago, missing four games with a broken fibula.

Rutgers redshirt junior RB Paul James exited Saturday's game against Navy in the second frame with an apparent knee injury.

James took a helmet to his right knee on a 13-yard run. As the replay booth tried to decide if he'd fumbled or not on the play -- he had not -- trainers worked on James' right leg. They assisted James off the field and James was ultimately outfitted with crutches. James had 96 yards on seven carries before he came out. The running back missed four games last year with a broken fibula.

James showed "why he has a future at the next level," wrote Brugler, by running for 173 yards and three touchdowns in last week's 41-38 win over Washington State. "James did an outstanding job lowering and squaring his pads, running with purpose and finishing each run," Brugler wrote. "He stayed balanced through contact and although he's not overly shifty or explosive, Ryan showed the start/stop quickness to cut back, using vision to find secondary lanes. He clearly loves running north-south with forward lean and keeps his legs churning through contact, making him a chore to tackle. James led Rutgers with 881 yards a year ago and is well on his way to breaking the 1,000-plus barrier this season. And NFL scouts have taken notice." The 6-foot, 210-pounder runs a 4.62 forty.

James ran for 173 yards and three touchdowns in the contest. The 6-foot, 210-pound junior "lowers his shoulders on contact and spins off hits, keeping his feet moving and eyes searching for daylight" and "showed better acceleration than his frame would indicate" on Thursday, according to the analyst. James suffered through an ankle injury last year, so we're hoping he can stay healthy this fall. The 6-foot, 210-pounder runs a 4.62 forty.

James tallied a team-high 881 yards and nine touchdowns. Those totals included a 5.6 yards per carry average and 97.9 yards per game. He suffered through an ankle injury last year, so hopefully James can prove his health this fall. The 6-foot, 210-pounder runs a 4.62 forty.

Rutgers redshirt sophomore RB Paul James will miss the school's game against Houston with a lower leg injury.

James could return the following week against Temple, however. James had rushed for 573 yards through four games prior to his injury against Arkansas. Beat writer Tom Liucci called the injury a "a broken or cracked fibula."

Rutgers redshirt sophomore walk-on Paul James has won the starting RB job.

Prior to the school's opener against Fresno State, James had only played in two games and totaled 22 yards on five carries. Last Thursday he posted 182 yards on 22 carries and will fill the shoes vacated by Jawan Jamison, who jumped to the NFL after his redshirt sophomore season.